Access to Information

As revealed by the recent sociological surveys the major source of information for the greater part of the population (88%) is television⁸. Therefore, TV bears a decisive role in providing information to national minorities. Despite certain steps taken forward to improve provision of information in 2010, namely, launching of “Moambe” in minority languages by Public Broadcaster through regional TV Channels, the level of access to information for ethnic minorities is still low. Both the frequency and quality of the infor-mation provision as well as the contents of the inforinfor-mation is unsatisfactory. Moreover, national and local TV coverage is limited. As a result, there are villages and settlements in the regions densely populated by ethnic minorities where TV signals from neither national not local TV stations is received. The same applies to radio transmission as well.

In terms of provision of the information and promotion of civic integration, it was undoubt-edly a positive measure to translate electoral information video clips into minority lan-guages by the National Elections Committee before the local self-government elections in 2010. In 2010 these videos were broadcast through “National Moambe” of the Public Broadcaster as well as regional TVs.

As confirmed by the survey undertaken in the Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti in December, 2010 within Civil Development Agency’s (CiDA) Project⁹ the major obstacle to the access to information is the language barrier. A large part of the population in these regions receives information in a language other than Georgian. Two thirds of non-Geor-gian population in Samtskhe-Javakheti receives information in the Russian and Armenian

8 Caucasian Research Resources Center (CRRC) media surveys, 2009 and 2011.

9 ARC „Survey of multiethnic community in Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti” undertaken within Civil Development Agency’s (CiDA) Project “A multi-ethnic confidence-building network “ in the Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti in December, 2011.

languages. More than a quarter of Kvemo Kartli population receives information in the Russian Language and more than half in the Azeri language. Accordingly, ethnic minorities living in Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli regions prefer Russian, Armenian, Azerbai-jani and Turkish channels.

In accordance to the research by the „Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and De-velopment“ conducted in 2010, for two thirds of Samtskhe-Javakheti population local TVs are the major source of information¹⁰. As per the results of the CiDA survey, in Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli regions local channels are viewed by less than a third of the population¹¹. From the above-mentioned, strengthening of local TV channels and employ-ing the resource more actively for provision of information to national minorities can be recommended.

Regional TV stations are not yet developed enough to fully meet the demand of the popu-lation on information. There are many problems hindering the development of local televi-sion stations, financial resources being at front. The advertising market is relatively under developed in the regions, and consequently, revenues from TV advertising are little. Other problems include outdated technology, low qualification of journalists, as well as need for a building for most of them. All these prevent creation of more products in languages comprehensive to ethnic minorities.

At the same time, there is a deficit of commercial approaches to regional televisions. Many still hope for getting grants from donors. No attempts of cooperation among regional TV stations and efforts to create joint products in the light of scarce resources. One of the serious problems is that new media elements are not used. Most of the TV companies do not even have a website of their own.

Three local TV channels broadcast in Samtskhe-Javakheti: Georgian “Channel Nine” in Akhaltsikhe and Armenian „ATV 12“in Akhalkalaki and “Parvana” in Ninotsminda.

Georgian TV company “Channel Nine” covers Akhaltsikhe and Adigeni Districts. Around 5 hours are dedicated to the programs prepared by the channel; the rest of the airtime is filled by Russian “Region TV.” The TV Company prepares daily news program on current events taking place in the region.

Since April, 2010 through financial support from the USAID the channel broadcasts pro-gram “Dialogue” covering mostly social problems and civil integration issues (e.g. mixed families). In total 15 programs were prepared. Among the invited guest there were ethnic minorities too.

2010

10 ARC survey on “Major Sources of information and civic identity of Samtskhe-Javakheti Population, No-vember, 2010; Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD)

11 ARC „Survey of multiethnic community in Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti” undertaken within Civil Development Agency’s (CiDA) Project “A multi-ethnic confidence-building network “ in the Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti in December, 2011.

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Channel 9’s broadcast of pre- self government-election debate is worth noting aiming at the increased participation of the local population in the elections as well as facilitation them to make informed decisions. This was a joint product by “Internews”, USAID and the TV Company. The Tele-debates were broadcast also online at Internews internet address.

Through the website the viewers could put questions to the participants of the debates live.

During pre-election period Channel 9 also broadcast video clips in Armenian prepared by the central Elections Committee.

Television does not have a website, has only a blog, funded by the Eurasia Partnership Foundation.

TV station “Parvana” is the only television in Ninotsminda. It broadcasts in Armenian and covers Ninotsminda and Akhalkalaki districts.

At present, “Parvana” is the best established TV channel in Samtskhe-Javakheti region with its technical-material resources, program diversity and number of employees. In addition to grants, it has income from advertising.

The daily news programs of the television covers events taking place in Samtskhe-Ja-vakheti, the problems the population faces, socio-economic and cultural issues. In 2010

“Parvana” accommodated for Armenian “Moambe” by Public Broadcaster in the evening airtime. The associated retranslation costs were covered by the local council. Every day television allocates airtime to programs of the Armenian TV channel “Armenia.”

A program series aiming at civil integration were prepared through the financial support of

“Open Society _ Georgia”. The program highlighted life, social problems, issues related to cultural identity and the development prospects of the population in Samtskhe-Javakheti.

TV Company “Parvana” has a website, which is still underdeveloped (www.parvana.ge).

The website contains only general information about the company. Neither current nor archived programs are placed on the website.

Akhalkalaki Armenian TV Channel „ATV 12“covers Akhalkalaki District only partially. To achieve full coverage, the TV Company needs retranslator. In 2010 TV channel broadcast Armenian “Moambe” by the Public Broadcaster every evening and was repeated next morning. TV company prepares its original news program covering news of the district and issues from local municipality. Twice a month program “Conversation with the Law-yer” is broadcast through the TV where the expert explains the laws that are of interest for Akhalkalaki population. Free airtime was filled with Russian Channel “Region TV”.

Among the TV stations in Samtskhe-Javakheti „ATV-12“ is the most impoverished from the point of view of finances, technical equipment and employees. The TV channel exists on revenues. The major source of income is running messages and obituaries. Little income is collected through selling airtime to the local council. According to the Director of the television, the population is interested in agricultural issues. However, due to the lack of funds the television cannot afford to develop a new program.

Marneuli TV located in Marneuli, Kvemo Kartli covers Marneuli District completely as well as part of Tetritskharo, Bolnisi and Dmanisi Districts. The TV Station is Georgian, but pro-duces a few bilingual programs as well. The channel broadcasts Azeri “National Moambe”

by the Public Broadcaster during the evening air and repeats it in the morning. TV channel prepares its own news program in two languages, Georgian and Azeri. In 2010 through financial support from the Embassy of The USA in Georgia a series of programs on current problems in the villages of the region especially those where ethnic Azeris reside.

„Marneuli TV“ has a website (www.marneulitv.ge), where new programs and program archives are posted.

Georgian TV channel “Bolneli” produces a weekly informational-analytic program in Georgian and Azeri. The project is financed through the Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF).

In December, 2010 according to the CiDA research, the population in Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti are better informed about the current processes in general through-out the country, than abthrough-out the events happening specifically in respective regions¹². TV Journal “Polygon” by the “Association of Regional Broadcasters of Georgia” is an interest-ing project to counterweigh this gap. This project is beinterest-ing implemented through financial support from Dutch Organization Press Now and Open Society Georgia Foundation and is on air since 2009. The reports for the program are prepared by regional correspon-dents and the issues such as human rights, ethnic minorities, education and culture that are relevant for their region are covered. The TV journal is broadcast once a week on regional TV channels and provides the population with information on ongoing issues in the country.

Together with other regional broadcasters, Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli TV channels are also engaged in the project. However, majority of television viewers, due to the lack of knowledge of the language cannot understand Georgian “polygon”. The As-sociation of Regional Broadcasters has considered this problem, and since July 2010 the program is subtitled in Armenian and Azeri. Accordingly, Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli televisions renewed its broadcast.

Kakheti regional televisions have not produced programs in minority languages. Kakheti does not face the problem of the knowledge of the language of the scale and acuteness as some areas of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli. Among the Georgian regional tele-vision stations “Gurjaani” has the most diverse and informative program. Besides the daily news programs, the station in 2010 broadcast a weekly analytical talk show “Power of the Powerless,” discussing the regional problems. In addition, a weekly analytical program

“Self-Governance Expert” was devoted to discuss the problems in self-governance. Since 2011, “Gurjaani” produces a program “Farmer’s Time”. It has its own web site (www.

gurjaanitv.ge), where the program archive is accessible.

2010

12 ARC „Survey of multiethnic community in Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti” undertaken within Civil Development Agency’s (CiDA) Project “A multi-ethnic confidence-building network “ in the Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti in December, 2011.

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In accordance with the CiDA survey in Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli, on average 13% of the population listens to the radio¹³. The proportion of the Radio listeners is even lower in ethnic terms. “Ar Daidardo”, “Imedi”, “Fortuna”, “Green Wave” are among the radios named by the listeners.

Radio “Green Wave” covers almost all the country. In 2010, the Radio “Green Wave”

broadcast a program “Media Criticism” which devoted a number of programs to the cov-erage of ethnic minorities and the language of hatred in the media. In addition, since 2010 the radio produces a program “Europe in Georgia,” 6 editions of which were devoted to national minorities. Radio also broadcasts live Boell Foundation debates which often cover national minorities, civic integration, and media. Every evening, for one hour, at 9 PM “Green Wave” broadcasts Russian-language informational-analytic program “Echo of the Caucasus” by Radio Liberty. Broadcast of the program started in October 2009. The project aimed at covering also South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The program reports on cur-rent National and global news. “Echo of the Caucasus” is also daily broadcast by Zugdidi Radio “Atinati” and Gori Radio “Trialeti”.

According to the survey by CiDA newspapers represent sources of information for very few of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli population¹⁴. Georgian population is more likely to read printed media, than non-Georgian. Out of 38 named, 18 are local or foreign (Armenian and Azeri) newspapers. “Kviris Palitra” and “Asaval-Dasavali” are most popu-lar among Georgians when “South Gate” and “Vrastan” among non-Georgians.

In 2010 the Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration renewed its website which now is in English and Russian, too, apart from being in Georgian. Under the rubric

“civic integration” the documents related to the issues of tolerance and civic integration are accessible in Armenian and Azerbaijani as well.

CiDA survey results reveal that the number of internet users in Samtskhe-Javakheti is twice as high (23.9%) as in Kvemo Kartli (11.3%). It seems that it is a long way before internet can compete with television as a major source of information in Georgia.